Superstar Altior to light up Kempton on Thursday in Desert Orchid Chase

There are already several equine stars due to be in action over the festive period and on Sunday Nicky Henderson revealed there will be another, with Altior a surprise intended runner in Thursday's Grade 2 Unibet Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

Ascot's Clarence House Chase had been front-runner in terms of the next outing for the sensational eight-year-old, who is unbeaten in ten starts over fences, his most recent win coming just over a fortnight ago in the Tingle Creek when beating Un De Sceaux by four lengths.

However, the son of High Chaparral is now set for a second start in December.

"Altior will definitely take his chance at Kempton," said Henderson. "We considered the King George but that is over three miles and I didn’t want to run him over that distance so soon after the Tingle Creek, but two miles and 19 days later is absolutely fine."

Nico de Boinville will be back on Altior 19 days after their Tingle Creek victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added on his Unibet blog: "He has come out of Sandown in great form, so we might as well get him out again."

One who will not be lining up in the Desert Orchid is Peterborough Chase runner-up God's Own, with trainer Tom George deciding to give the ten-year-old a bit more time to recover from his last run.

Desert Orchid Chase entries

While Altior will therefore face a maximum five rivals, Henderson's hurdling superstar Buveur D'Air has just four opponents in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle, which takes place a day earlier, following Sunday's declarations.

Bedrock, who had been due to take on the dual Champion Hurdle winner, will instead head to Leopardstown for the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle on Saturday.

The five-year-old, last seen at Down Royal when turning over Samcro in a Grade 2, is heading back to Ireland after his trainer Iain Jardine plumped for the Ryanair, with underfoot conditions one of the factors taken into consideration.

Ryanair Hurdle entries

"I've thought it over and have decided Leopardstown is the better option," Jardine said on Sunday. "It seems the more sensible race. They had rain at Kempton this morning and it could get fairly soft."

Bedrock (left): Samcro's conqueror at Down Royal returns to IrelandCredit: Caroline Norris

Although avoiding Kempton means missing Buveur D'Air, the Ryanair Hurdle will be no easy race, with Samcro, Laurina and Melon all entered.

"Wherever you go there will be top horses in these sorts of races, said Jardine.

Another aspect to the decision made by the trainer is that Rachael Blackmore, who has been aboard for Bedrock's last two starts, will be able to continue the partnership at Leopardstown.

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